THE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY ACT, 1966 

___________ 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 

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SECTIONS 

1. Short title and commencement.  

2. Definitions.  

3. The University.  

4. Objects.  

5. Powers of the University.  

6. Jurisdiction of the University.  

7. Powers and jurisdiction in respect of institution or body outside the Union territory of Delhi.  

8. Visitor.  

9. Officers of the University.  

10. Authorities of the University.  

11. The Court.  

12. The Executive Council.  

13. The Academic Council.  

14. The Academic Advisory Committee.  

15. Statutes.  

16. Statutes how made.  

17. Ordinances.  

18. Regulations.  

19. Annual Report.  

20. Audit of accounts. 

21. Disputes as to constitution of the University authorities and bodies.  

22. Constitution of committees.  

23. Filling of casual vacancies.  

24. Proceedings of the University authorities and bodies not invalidated by vacancies.  

25. Removal of difficulties.  

26. Transitional provisions.  

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SECTIONS 

27. Amendment of Act 8 of 1922.  

THE FIRST SCHEDULE.  

THE SECOND SCHEDULE. 

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THE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY ACT, 1966 

 ACT NO. 53 OF 1966 

[22nd December, 1966.]  

An Act to establish and incorporate a university in Delhi. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventeenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:― 

1. Short title and commencement.― (1) This Act may be called the Jawaharlal Nehru University 

Act, 1966. 

(2)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date1  as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. Definitions.―In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,― 

(a) “College” means a college maintained by the University; 

(b)  “Hall”  means  a  unit  of  residence,  by  whatever  name  called,  for  students  of  the  University 

provided, maintained or recognised by it; 

(c) “recognised institution” means an institution of higher learning maintained or recognised by, 

or associated with, the University; 

(d) “prescribed” means prescribed by Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations; 

(e) “Statutes”, “Ordinances” and “Regulations” mean, respectively, the Statutes, Ordinances and 

Regulations of the University made under this Act; 

(f) “University” means the Jawaharlal Nehru University. 

3. The University.―(1) There shall be constituted in the Union territory of Delhi a University by the 

name of “Jawaharlal Nehru University”. 

(2) The first Chancellor and the first Vice-Chancellor of the University and the first members of the 
Court, the Executive Council and the Academic Council and all persons who may hereafter become such 
officers or members so long as they continue to hold such office or membership are hereby constituted a 
body corporate by the name of “Jawaharlal Nehru University”. 

(3) The University shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall sue and be sued by 

the said name. 

4. Objects.―The objects of the University shall be to disseminate and advance knowledge, wisdom 
and understanding by teaching and research and by the example and influence of its corporate life and in 
particular the objects set out in the First Schedule. 

5. Powers of the University.―The University shall have the following powers, namely:― 

(1) to provide for instruction including the method of correspondence courses in such branches of 
learning as the University may from time to time determine, and to make provision for research and 
for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge; 

1. 22nd April 1969, vide Notification No. S.O.1525, dated 21st April, 1969, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii). 

3 

 
                                                           
(2) to establish within the Union territory of Delhi or outside that territory such Special Centres 
and Specialised Laboratories and such other units for research and instruction as are necessary for the 
furtherance of its objects; 

(3) to organise and to undertake extra-mural teaching and extension services; 

(4)  to  hold  examinations  and  grant  diplomas  or  certificates  to,  and  confer  degrees  and  other 
academic distinctions on, persons and to withdraw any such diplomas, certificates, degrees or other 
academic distinctions for good and sufficient cause; 

(5)  to  confer  honorary  degrees  or  other  academic  distinctions  in  the  manner  laid  down  in  the 

Statutes; 

(6) to create such teaching, administrative and other posts as the University may deem necessary, 

from time to time, and to make appointments thereto; 

(7) to appoint or recognise persons as Professors, Readers or Lecturers or otherwise as teachers of 

the University; 

(8) to institute and award Fellowships, Scholarships, Exhibitions and prizes; 

(9) to establish and maintain Colleges and Halls, to recognise, guide, supervise and control Halls 
not maintained by the University and other accommodation for students, and to withdraw any such 
recognition; 

(10) to  regulate and  enforce  discipline  among  students  and  employees  of the  University  and  to 

take such disciplinary measures in this regard as may be deemed necessary; 

(11) to make arrangements for promoting health and general welfare of students and employees 

of the University; 

(12) to determine and provide for examinations for admission into the University; 

 (13)  to  recognise  for  any  purpose,  either  in  whole  or  in  part,  any  institution  or  members  or 
students  thereof  on  such  terms  and  conditions  as  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  prescribed  and  to 
withdraw such recognition; 

(14)  to  co-operate  with  any  other  University,  authority  or  association  or  any  other  public  or 
private body having in view the promotion of purposes and objects similar to those of the University 
for such purposes as may be agreed upon, on such terms and conditions as may, from time to time, be 
prescribed; 

(15) to enter into any agreement for the incorporation in the University of any  other institution 
and for taking over its rights, properties and liabilities and for any other purpose not repugnant to this 
Act; 

(16) to demand and receive payment of such fees and other charges as may be prescribed, from 

time to time; 

(17) to receive donations and to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of any property movable or 
immovable, including trust or endowed property within or outside the Union territory of Delhi, for the 
purposes or objects of the University, and to invest funds in such manner as the University thinks fit; 

(18) to make provision for research and advisory services; and for that purpose to enter into such 

arrangements with other institutions or bodies as the University may deem necessary; 

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(19) to provide for the printing, reproduction and publication of research and other work which 

may be issued by the University; 

(20) to borrow, with the approval of the Central Government, on the security of the University 

property, money for the purposes of the University; 

(21) to do all such things as may be necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or 

any of the objects of the University. 

6. Jurisdiction of the University.―(1) The jurisdiction of the University shall extend to all Colleges 

and recognised institutions.  

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (13) of section 5, the Jawaharlal Nehru University 
shall not grant recognition, either in whole or in part, to any institution which has already been recognised 
by the University of Delhi unless the Central Government, after consultation with the University of Delhi, 
authorises the Jawaharlal Nehru University to do so. 

(3)  On  and  from  the  date  of  the  recognition  either  in  whole  or  in  part  of  an  institution  by  the 
Jawaharlal  Nehru  University  under  sub-  section  (2),  the  University  of  Delhi  shall  to the  extent  of  such 
recognition cease to have jurisdiction over that institution. 

7.  Powers  and  Jurisdiction  in  respect  of  institution  or  body  outside  the  Union  territory  of 

Delhi.―Notwithstanding anything contained in section 5,― 

 (a)  where  any  institution  or  body  established  outside  the  Union  territory  of  Delhi  seeks 

recognition from the University, or 

 (b)  where  the  University  establishes  and  maintains  any  institution  or  body  outside  the  Union 

territory of Delhi,  

then the powers and jurisdiction of the University shall extend to such institution or body subject to— 

(i) the laws in force in the State within which, and 

(ii) the rules and regulations of the University within whose jurisdiction,  

the said institution or body is situated. 

8. Visitor.―(1) The President of India shall be the Visitor of the University. 

(2) The Visitor may, from time to time, appoint one or more persons to review the work and progress 
of the University and to submit a report thereon; and upon receipt of that report, the Visitor may, after 
obtaining  the  views  of  the  Executive  Council  thereon,  take  such  action  and  issue  such  directions  as  he 
considers necessary in respect of any of the matters dealt with in the report and the University shall be 
bound to comply with such directions. 

(3) The Visitor shall also have the right to cause an inspection to be made by such person or persons 
as  he  may  direct  of  the  University,  its  buildings,  laboratories  and  equipment  and  of  any  institution 
maintained by the University, and also of the examinations, teaching and other work conducted or done 
by  the  University  and  to  cause  an  inquiry  to  be  made  in  respect  of  any  matter  connected  with  the 
University. 

(4) The Visitor shall in every case give notice to the University of his intention to cause an inspection 
or inquiry to be made, and the University shall be entitled to appoint a representative who shall have the 
right to be present and be heard at such inspection or inquiry. 

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(5) The Visitor may address the Vice-Chancellor with reference to the result of such inspection and 
inquiry,  and  the  Vice-Chancellor  shall  communicate  to  the  Executive  Council  the  views  of  the  Visitor 
with such advice as the Visitor may offer upon the action to be taken thereon. 

(6) The Executive Council shall communicate through the Vice-Chancellor to the Visitor such action, 

if any, as it is proposed to take or has been taken upon the result of such inspection or inquiry. 

(7) Where the Executive Council does not, within a reasonable time, take action to the satisfaction of 
the Visitor, the Visitor  may,  after  considering  any  explanation  furnished  or  representation  made  by  the 
Executive Council, issue such directions as he may think fit and the Executive Council shall be bound to 
comply with such directions. 

(8)  The  Visitor  may  by  order  in  writing  annul  any  proceeding  of  the  University  which  is  not  in 

conformity with this Act, the Statutes or the Ordinances. 

(9) The Visitor shall also have such other powers as may be prescribed by the Statutes. 

9. Officers of the University.―(1) There shall be a Chancellor appointed in the manner prescribed 

by the Statutes who shall be the Head of the University. 

(2) The Chancellor shall, if present, preside at convocation of the University for conferring degrees 

and all meetings of the Court. 

 (3) There shall be a Vice-Chancellor appointed in the manner prescribed by the Statutes who shall be 
the principal executive and Academic Officer of the University and ex officio Chairman of the Executive 
Council, Academic Council and Finance Committee and he shall, in the absence of the Chancellor preside 
at any convocation for conferring degrees and also at any meeting of the Court. 

(4) There shall be one or more Rectors who shall be appointed in such manner and with such powers 

and duties as may be prescribed by the Statutes. 

 (5) There shall be a Dean for each School of Study who shall be appointed in such manner and with 

such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Statutes. 

 (6) There shall be a Registrar who shall act as Secretary of the Court, the Executive Council and the 
Academic Council and he shall be appointed in such manner and with such powers and duties as may be 
prescribed by the Statutes. 

 (7)  There  shall  be  a  Finance  Officer  who  shall  be  the  Secretary  of  the  Finance  Committee  and 

exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Statutes. 

(8) There shall be such other officers as provided for in the Statutes. 

10.  Authorities  of  the  University.―The  authorities  of  the  University  shall  be  the  Court,  the 
Executive Council, the Academic Council, the Schools of Studies, the Finance Committee and such other 
authorities as may be declared by the Statutes to be authorities of the University. 

11. The Court.―(1) The Court shall be the supreme authority of the University, and its constitution 

and the terms of office of its members shall be prescribed by the Statutes. 

(2) The  Court  shall  have  the  power  to  review  the  acts  of  the  Executive  Council  and  the  Academic 
Council  (save  when  these  authorities  have  acted  in  accordance  with  the  powers  conferred  upon  them 
under  this  Act,  the  Statutes  or  the  Ordinances)  and  shall  exercise  all  the  powers  of  the  University  not 
otherwise provided for by this Act or the Statutes: 

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Provided that the power of review under this sub-section shall not be exercised except by a majority 
of the total membership of the Court and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the 
Court present and voting. 

12.  The  Executive  Council.―(1)  The  Executive  Council  shall  be  the  executive  body  of  the 
University,  and  its  constitution  and  the  terms  of  office  of  its  members,  other  than  ex  officio  members, 
shall be prescribed by the Statutes. 

(2)  It  shall  be  in  charge  of  the  general  management  and  administration  (including  the  revenue  and 

property) of the University. 

13.  The  Academic  Council.―(1)  The  Academic  Council  shall  be  the  academic  body  of  the 
University,  and  its  constitution  and  the  terms  of  office  of  its  members,  other  than  ex  officio  members, 
shall be prescribed by the Statutes. 

(2) The Academic Council shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, the Statutes and the Ordinances, 
have  the  control  and  general  regulation,  and  be  responsible  for  the  maintenance,  of  standards  of 
instruction,  education  and examination  within  the  University,  and  shall  exercise  such  other  powers  and 
perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed upon it by the Statutes. 

14.  The  Academic  Advisory  Committee.―(1)  There  shall  be  constituted  an  Academic  Advisory 
Committee  of  the  University  which  shall  advise  generally  on  the  planning  and  development  of  the 
University and keep under review the standard of education and research in the University. 

(2) The Committee shall consist of― 

 (a)  not  more  than  seven  persons  of  high  academic  standing  who  shall  be  appointed  in  such  

manner as may be prescribed by the statutes, and 

(b) the Vice-Chancellor. 

(3) The Visitor may determine a date with effect from which the Academic Advisory Committee shall 

stand dissolved. 

15.  Statutes.―Subject  to the  provisions  of  this  Act, the  Statutes  may  provide  for  all  or  any  of  the 

following matters, namely:— 

(a) the constitution, powers and duties of the authorities and other bodies of the University, the 
qualifications and disqualifications for membership of such authorities and other bodies, appointment 
and removal of members thereof and other matters connected therewith; 

(b) the appointment, powers and duties of the officers of the University; 

(c) the appointment, terms and conditions of service and the powers and duties of the employees 

of the University; 

(d) the terms and conditions under which institutions may be associated with the University; 

(e) the administration of the University, the establishment and abolition of Colleges, institutions 
and  Halls,  the  grant  and  withdrawal  of  recognition  to  institutions,  the  institution  of  Fellowships, 
Awards  and  the  like,  the  conferment  of  degrees  and  other  academic  distinctions  and  the  grant  of 
diplomas and certificates; 

(f) any other matter which is necessary for the proper and effective management and conduct of 

the affairs of the University and which by this Act is to be or may be provided by the Statutes. 

7 

 
16. Statutes, how made.―(1) The first Statutes are those set out in the Second Schedule. 

(2) The Executive Council may, from time to time, make new or additional Statutes or may amend or 

repeal the Statutes in the manner hereafter in this section provided: 

Provided  that  the  Executive  Council  shall  not  make  any  Statute  or  any  amendment  of  a  Statute 
affecting the status, powers or constitution of any existing authority of the University until such authority 
has  been  given  an  opportunity  of  expressing  an  opinion  on the  proposal,  and  any  opinion  so  expressed 
shall be in writing and shall be considered by the Executive Council: 

Provided  further that  no  Statute  shall  be  made  by  the  Executive  Council  affecting  the  discipline  of 
students,  and  standards  of  instruction,  education  and  examination  except  after  consultation  with  the 
Academic Council. 

 (3)  Every  new  Statute  or  addition  to  the  Statutes  or  any  amendment  or  repeal  of  a  Statute  shall 
require the approval of the Visitor who may assent thereto or withhold assent on remit to the Executive 
Council for consideration. 

(4) A new Statute or a Statute amending or repealing an existing Statute shall have no validity unless 

it has been assented to by the Visitor. 

17.  Ordinances.―(1)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  Act  and  the  Statutes,  the  Ordinances  may 

provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:― 

(a)  the  admission  of  students,  the  courses  of  study  and  the  fees  therefor,  the  qualifications 
pertaining  to  degrees,  diplomas,  certificates  and  other  academic  distinctions,  the  conditions  for  the 
grant of Fellowships, Awards and the like; 

(b) the conduct of examinations, including the terms of office and appointment of examiners, and 

the conditions of residence of students and their general discipline; 

(c) the management of colleges and institutions maintained by the University; 

(d)  any  other  matter  which  by  this  Act  or  the  Statutes  is  to  be  or  may  be  provided  by  the 

Ordinances. 

(2)  The  first  Ordinances  shall  be  made  by  the  Vice-Chancellor  with  the  previous  approval  of  the 
Central Government and the Ordinances so made may be amended, repealed or added to at any time by 
the Executive Council in the manner prescribed by the Statutes. 

18. Regulations.―1 [(1)] The authorities of the University may make Regulations consistent with this 
Act,  the  Statutes  and  the  Ordinances  for  the  conduct  of  their  own  business  and  that  of  the  committees 
appointed  by  them  and  not  provided  for  by  this  Act,  the  Statutes  or  the  Ordinances  in  the  manner 
prescribed by the Statutes. 

2[(2)  Every  Statute,  Ordinance  or  Regulation  made  under this  Act  shall  be published in the  Offical 

Gazette. 

(3) Every Statute, Ordinance or Regulation made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after 
it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which 
may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the 
session  immediately  following  the  session  or  the  successive  sessions  aforesaid,  both  Houses  agree  in 

1. Section 18 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 4 of 2005, s. 2 and Schedule (w.e.f.11-1-2005). 
2. Ins. by s. 2 and the Schedule, ibid. (w.e.f.11-1-2005). 

8 

 
                                                           
making any modification in the Statute, Ordinance or Regulation or both Houses agree that the Statute, 
Ordinance or Regulation should not be made, the Statute, Ordinance or Regulation shall thereafter have 
effect  only  in  such  modified  form  or  be  of  no  effect,  as  the  case  may  be;  so,  however,  that  any  such 
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice  to the validity of anything previously done under 
that Statute, Ordinance or Regulation.]  

19. Annual report.―(1) The annual report of the University shall be prepared under the direction of 
the Executive Council and shall be submitted to the Court on or before such date as may be prescribed by 
the Statutes and shall be considered by the Court at its annual meeting.  

(2) The Court may communicate its comments thereon to the Executive Council. 

1[(3)  A  copy  of the annual report, as  prepared under  sub-section (1),  shall also  be  submitted  to  the 
Central  Government,  which  shall,  as  soon  as  may  be,  cause  the  same  to  be  laid  before  both  Houses  of 
Parliament.] 

20. Audit of accounts.―(1) The accounts of the University shall, once at least in every year and at 
intervals of not more than fifteen months, be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, or 
any person authorised by him in this behalf. 

 (2) The accounts, when audited shall be published in the Gazette of India, and a copy of the accounts 

together with the audit report shall be submitted by the Registrar to the Visitor and to the Court. 

 2[(3)  A  copy  of  the  accounts,  together  with the audit report,  shall  also  be  submitted  to the  Central 
Government, which shall, as soon as may be, cause the same to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.] 

21.  Disputes  as  to  constitution  of  University  authorities  and  bodies.―If  any  question  arises 
whether any person has been duly elected or appointed as, or is entitled to be, a member of any authority 
or other body of the University, the matter shall be referred to the Visitor whose decision thereon shall be 
final. 

22. Constitution of committees.― Where any authority of the University is given power by this Act 
or  the  Statutes  to  appoint  committees,  such  committees  shall,  save  as  otherwise  provided,  consist  of 
members of the authority concerned and of such other persons (if any) as the authority in each case may 
think fit. 

23.  Filling  of  casual  vacancies.―  All  casual  vacancies  among  the  members  (other  than  ex  officio 
members) of any authority or other body of the University shall be filled, as soon as conveniently may be, 
by the person or body who appointed, elected or co-opted the member whose place has become vacant, 
and the person appointed, elected or co-opted to a casual vacancy shall be a member of such authority or 
body for the residue of the term for which the person whose place he fills would have been a member. 

24. Proceedings of the University authorities and bodies not invalidated by vacancies.―No act 
or proceedings of any authority or other body of the University shall be invalidated merely by reason of 
the existence of a vacancy or vacancies among its members. 

25. Removal of difficulties.― If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, 
the  Central  Government  may,  by  order  published  in  the  Official  Gazette,  make  such  provisions  not 
inconsistent with the purposes of this Act, as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the 
difficulty.  

1. Ins. by Act 25 of 2008, s. 6 (w.e.f. 5-12-2008). 
2. Ins. by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 5-12-2008). 

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26. Transitional provisions.―Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act and the Statutes―  

(a) the first Chancellor, members of the Court, the Executive Council and the Academic Council 

shall be nominated by the Visitor and shall hold office for a term of three years;  

(b) the first Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Visitor and he shall hold office for a term 

of five years. 

27. Amendment of Act 8 of 1922.―In the Delhi University Act, 1922, in sub-section (2) of section 
5,  after  the  words  “for  the  time  being  in  force”,  the  words  and  figures  “but  subject  to  the  provisions 
contained in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966” shall be inserted. 

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THE FIRST SCHEDULE 

(See section 4) 

The  University  shall  endeavour  to  promote  the  study  of  the  principles  for  which  Jawaharlal  Nehru 
worked  during  his  life-time,  namely,  national  integration,  social  justice,  secularism,  democratic  way  of 
life, international understanding and scientific approach to the problems of society. 

Towards this end, the university shall— 

(i) foster the composite culture of India and establish such departments or institutions as may be 

required for the study and development of the languages, arts and culture of India; 

(ii)  take  special  measures  to  facilitate  students  and  teachers  from  all  over  India  to  join  the 

University and participate in its academic programmes; 

(iii) promote in the students and teachers an awareness and understanding of the social needs of 

the country and prepare them for fulfilling such needs; 

(iv)  make  special  provision  for  integrated  courses  in  humanities,  science  and  technology  in  the 

educational programmes of the University; 

(v) take appropriate measures for promoting inter-disciplinary studies in the University; 

(vi)  establish  such  departments  or  institutions  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  study  of  languages, 
literature and life of foreign countries with a view to inculcating in the students a world perspective 
and international understanding; 

(vii) provide facilities for students and teachers from other countries to participate in the academic 

programmes and life of the University. 

11 

 
 
 
THE SECOND SCHEDULE 

[See section 16(1)] 

THE STATUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY 

1. Definitions.—In these Statutes— 

(a) “Act” means the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966; 

(b)  all  words  and  expressions  used  herein  and  defined  in  the  Act  shall  have  the  meanings 

respectively assigned to them in the Act. 

2. Chancellor. —(1) The Chancellor shall be elected by the Court and shall hold office for a term of 

three years: 

Provided that the Chancellor shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office 

until the election of his successor. 

(2) If the office of the Chancellor becomes vacant, the functions of his office shall, until some person 

is elected under clause (1) to the vacant office, be performed by the Vice-Chancellor. 

3. Vice-Chancellor. —(1) The Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Visitor from a panel of not 

less than three persons who shall be recommended by a committee consisting of three members: 

Provided that, if the Visitor does not approve of any of the persons so recommended, he may call for 

fresh recommendations. 

(2)  Two  members  of  the  committee  shall  be  persons  not  connected  with  the  University  or  an 
institution recognised by, or associated with, the University nominated by the Executive Council and one 
member shall be a person nominated by the Visitor who shall also be the Chairman of the committee. 

(3) The Vice-Chancellor shall be a whole-time salaried officer of the University. 

(4) The Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters 
upon his office and shall, on the expiration of his term of office be ineligible for re-appointment to that 
office: 

Provided that the Vice-Chancellor shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold 

his office until his successor is appointed and enters upon his office. 

(5) The emoluments and terms and conditions of service of the Vice-Chancellor shall be as follows— 

(i) There shall be paid to the Vice-Chancellor a salary of two thousand five hundred rupees per 
mensem and he shall be entitled, without payment of rent, to use a furnished residence throughout his 
term  of  office  and  no  charge  shall  fall  on  the  Vice-Chancellor  personally  in  respect  of  the 
maintenance of such residence. 

(ii) The Vice-Chancellor shall not be entitled to the benefits of the University Provident Fund or 

to any other allowance: 

Provided that where any employee of the University is appointed as Vice-Chancellor, he shall be 
allowed to continue to contribute to the Provident Fund and the contribution of the University shall be 
limited to what he had been contributing immediately before his appointment as Vice-Chancellor. 

(iii) The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to travelling allowances at such rates as may be fixed 

by the Executive Council. 

(iv) The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to leave on full pay for one-eleventh of the period spent 

by him on active service. 

(v) The Vice-Chancellor shall also he entitled, on medical grounds or otherwise than on medical 

grounds, to leave without pay for a period not exceeding three months during the term of his office: 

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Provided that such leave may be converted into leave on full pay to the extent to which he will be 

entitled to leave under sub-clause (iv). 

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (5), the Executive Council may, with the previous 

approval  of  the  Visitor,  vary  the  emoluments  and  all  or  any  of  the  conditions  of  service  of                          
Vice-Chancellor at the time of his appointment. 

(7) If the office of the Vice-Chancellor becomes vacant, the functions of his office shall until some 
person is appointed under clause (1) to the vacant office, be performed by the Rector, and if there are two 
or more Rectors, by the senior-most of the Rectors: 

Provided  that  if  there  is  no  Rector,  the  Registrar  shall  carry  on  the  current  duties  of  the                          

Vice-Chancellor and call a meeting of the Executive Council forthwith and take its directions for carrying 
on of the work of the University. 

4.  Powers  and  duties  of  Vice-Chancellor.—(1)  The  Vice-Chancellor  shall  have  a  general 

responsibility for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the University. 

(2) It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chancellor to see that the provisions of the Act, these Statutes, the 
Ordinances  and  the  Regulations  are  duly  observed  and  the  decisions  taken  by  the  authorities  of  the 
University are implemented. 

(3) The Vice-Chancellor shall have power to convene meetings of the Court, the Executive Council 
and the Academic Council and shall perform all such acts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions 
of the Act, these Statutes and the Ordinances. 

(4) The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to be present at and to address any meeting of any authority 
or body or committee of the University but shall not be entitled to vote thereat unless he is a member of 
such authority or body or committee. 

(5)  If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Vice-Chancellor,  any  emergency  has  arisen  which  requires  immediate 
action to be taken, the Vice-Chancellor shall take such action as he deems necessary and shall report the 
same  for approval  at the  next  meeting  to the  authority  which,  in  the  ordinary  course,  would  have  dealt 
with the matter: 

Provided that, if the action taken by the Vice-Chancellor is not approved by the authority concerned, 

he may refer the matter to the Visitor, whose decision thereon shall be final: 

Provided further that, where any such action taken by the Vice-Chancellor affects any person in the 
service of the University, such person shall be entitled to prefer, within thirty days from the date on which 
he receives notice of such action, an appeal to the Executive Council. 

(6) The Vice-Chancellor shall exercise such other powers as may be prescribed by the Ordinances or 

the Regulations. 

5. Rector.—(1) Every Rector shall be appointed by the Executive Council on the recommendation of 

the Vice-Chancellor: 

Provided  that  where  the  recommendation  of  the  Vice-Chancellor  is  not  accepted  by  the  Executive 
Council,  he  may  recommend  any  other  person  to  the  Executive  Council  and  if  it  does  not  accept  that 
recommendation also, the Vice-Chancellor shall forward the names of both the persons aforesaid to the 
Visitor and the Visitor may appoint either of them or direct the Vice-Chancellor to recommend any other 
person to the Executive Council. 

(2) A Rector shall be a whole-time salaried officer of the University. 

(3) The term of office of a Rector shall be such as may be decided by the Executive Council, but it 

shall  not  in  any  case  exceed  five  years.  On  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  shall  be  eligible  for               
re-appointment. 

(4) The emoluments and other terms and conditions of service of a Rector shall be prescribed by the 

Ordinances. 

13 

 
6. Powers and duties of Rector.—(1) A Rector shall assist the Vice-Chancellor in respect of such 
matters as may be specified by the Vice-Chancellor in this behalf. He shall also exercise such powers and 
perform such duties as may be delegated to him by the Vice-Chancellor. 

(2) Where the Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman of any body or committee of the University and he is 
absent for any reason whatsoever from any meeting of such body or committee, the Rector, and if there 
are two or more Rectors, the senior-most Rector shall preside over such meeting. 

(3) A Rector shall, on being authorised by the Vice-Chancellor in that behalf, be entitled to be present 
at  and  to  address  any  meeting  of  any  authority,  body  or  committee  of  the  University  but  shall  not  be 
entitled to vote thereat: 

Provided that if the Rector is a member of such authority, body or committee, such Rector shall have 

all the rights and privileges of a member thereof. 

7.  Dean  of  School  of  Studies.—(1)  Every  Dean  of  a  School  of  Studies  shall  be  appointed  by  the     

Vice-Chancellor for a period of three years and he shall be eligible for re-appointment: 

Provided  that  when  the  office  of  the  Dean  is  vacant  or  when  the  Dean  is,  by  reason  of  illness  or 
absence  or  any  other  cause,  unable  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office,  the  duties  of  the  office  shall  be 
performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose. 

(2) The Dean shall be the head of the School of Studies and shall be responsible for the conduct and 
standard of teaching and research in the School. He shall have such other functions as may be prescribed 
by the Ordinances. 

(3) The Dean shall have the right to be present and to speak at any meeting of a board or committee of 

the School, as the case may be, but not the right to vote thereat unless he is a member thereof. 

8. Registrar.—(1) The Registrar shall be appointed by the Executive Council and shall be a whole-

time salaried officer of the University. 

(2) When the office of the Registrar is vacant or when the Registrar is, by reason of illness or absence 
for any other cause, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office shall be performed 
by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose. 

(3) The Registrar shall not by reason only of his being Secretary of the Court, the Executive Council 

and the Academic Council, be deemed to be a member of any of these authorities. 

(4) The Registrar shall— 

(a) be the custodian of the records, the common seal and such other properties of the University 

as the Executive Council shall commit to his charge; 

(b)  conduct  the  official  correspondence  of  the  Court,  the  Executive  Council  and  the  Academic 

Council; 

(c) supply to the Visitor copies of the agenda of meetings of the authorities of the University as 
soon as they are issued and the minutes of the meetings of the authorities ordinarily within a month of 
the holding of the meetings; 

(d)  in  an  emergency,  when  the  Vice-Chancellor  or  any  of  the  Rectors  is  not  able  to  act,  call  a 
meeting  of  the  Executive  Council  forthwith  and  take  its  directions  for  carrying  on  the  work  of  the 
University; 

(e) represent the University in suits or proceedings by or against the University, sign powers of 

attorney and verify pleadings or depute his representative for the purpose; and 

(f)  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  specified  in  these  Statutes,  or  prescribed  by  the 
Ordinances or the Regulations or as may be required, from time to time, by the Executive Council or 
the Vice-Chancellor. 

14 

 
(5) (a) The Registrar shall have power to take disciplinary action against the employees belonging to 
the ministerial staff and to suspend them pending inquiry, to administer warnings to them or to impose on 
them the penalty of censure or the withholding of increment: 

Provided  that  no  such  penalty  shall  be  imposed  unless  the  person  concerned  has  been  given  a 

reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken in regard to him. 

(b) An appeal shall lie to the Vice-Chancellor against any order of the Registrar imposing the penalty 

of the withholding of increment. 

(c)  In  a  case  where  the  inquiry  discloses  that  a  punishment  beyond  the  powers  of  the  Registrar  is 
called for, the Registrar shall, upon conclusion of the inquiry, make a report to the Vice-Chancellor along 
with his recommendations, for such action as the Vice-Chancellor deems fit: 

Provided  that an  appeal shall lie  to the  Executive  Council  against  the  order to  the  Vice-Chancellor 

imposing the penalty of dismissal. 

9. Finance Officer. —(1) The Finance Officer shall be appointed by the Executive Council and shall 

be a whole-time salaried officer of the University. 

(2)  When  the  office  of  the  Finance  Officer  is  vacant  or  when  the  Finance  Officer  is,  by  reason  of 
illness or absence for any other cause, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of  the office 
shall be performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose. 

(3) The Finance Officer shall— 

(a) exercise general supervision over the funds of the University and shall advise it as regard its 

financial policy; and 

(b) perform such other financial functions as may be assigned to him by the Executive Council or 

as may be prescribed by these Statutes or the Ordinances: 

Provided  that  the  Finance  Officer  shall  not  incur  any  expenditure  to  make  any  investment 

exceeding Rs. 10,000 without the previous approval of the Executive Council. 

(4) Subject to the control of the Finance Executive Council, the Finance Officer shall— 

(a)  hold  and  manage  the  property  and  investments  including  trust  and  endowed  property  for 

furthering any of the objects of the University; 

(b) see that the limits fixed by the Finance Committee for recurring and non-recurring expediture 
for  a  year  are  not  exceeded  and  that  all  moneys  are  expended  on  the  purposes  for  which  they  are 
granted or allotted; 

(c) be responsible for the preparation of annual accounts and the budget of the University for the 

next financial year and for their presentation to the Executive Council; 

(d)  keep  a  constant  watch  on  the  state  of  the  cash  and  bank  balances  and  on  the  state  of 

investments; 

(e) watch the progress of collection of revenue and advise on the methods of collection employed; 

(f) have the accounts of the University regularly audited by an internal audit party; 

(g) see that the registers of buildings, land, furniture and equipment are maintained up-to-date and 
that  the  stock-checking  is  conducted  of  equipment  and  other  consumable  materials  in  all  offices, 
Special Centres, Specialised Laboratories, colleges and institutions maintained by the University; 

(h)  call  for  explanation  for  unauthorised  expenditure  and  for  other  financial  irregularities  and 

suggest disciplinary action against the persons at fault; and 

(i)  call  for  from  any  office  or  college  or  institution  under  the  University  any  information  or 

returns that he may consider necessary to discharge his financial responsibilities. 

15 

 
(5) The receipt of the Financial Officer or of the person or persons duly authorised in this behalf by 
the Executive Council for any money payable to the University shall be sufficient discharge for the same. 

10.  Officers  of  the  University.—(1)  The  following  shall  also  be  the  officers  of  the  University, 

namely:― 

(a) Dean of Students, 

(b) Chief Proctor, 

(c) Librarian. 

(2) (a) The Dean of Students shall be appointed from amongst employees of the University, who are 
or who have been teachers of the University not below the rank of Reader, by the Executive Council on 
the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor; the Dean shall be a whole-time employee of the University, 
shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment. 

(b)  The  person  who  is  appointed  as  the  Dean  of  Students  shall  continue  to  hold  his  lien  on  his 

substantive post. 

(c) When the office of the Dean of Students is vacant or when the Dean of Students is, by reason of 
illness or absence for any other cause, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office 
shall be performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose. 

(d) The duties and powers of the Dean of Students shall be prescribed by the Ordinances. 

(3) (a) The Chief Proctor shall be appointed by the Executive Council on the recommendation of the 
Vice-Chancellor and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties in respect of the maintenance of 
discipline among the students as may be assigned to him by the Vice-Chancellor. 

(b)  The  Chief  Proctor  shall  hold  office  for  a  term  of  two  years  and  shall  be  eligible  for                                

re-appointment. 

(4) (a) The Librarian shall be appointed by the Executive Council and shall be a whole-time salaried 

officer of the University. 

(b) The duties and powers of the Librarian shall be regulated by the Ordinances. 

11. The Court.—(1) The Court shall consist of the following members, namely— 

Ex Officio Members: 

(i) The Chancellor; 

(ii) The Vice-Chancellor; 

(iii) The Rector or the Rectors; 

(iv)  The  remaining  members  of  the  Executive  Council  who  are  not  otherwise  members  of  the 

Court; 

(v) The Dean of Students; 

(vi) The Chief Proctor; 

(vii) The Librarian; 

(viii) Vice-Chancellor, Delhi University; 

(ix) Director, All-India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi; 

(x) Director, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi; 

(xi) Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; 

(xii) Director, Indian School of International Studies, New Delhi; 

16 

 
(xiii) Director, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi; 

(xiv) Director, Institute of Advanced Studies, Simla; 

(xv) Sheikh-ul-Jamia, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; 

(xvi) The President, Alumni Association; 

(xvii) Mayor, Municipal Corporation of Delhi; 

Representatives of Municipal Bodies: 

(xviii)  One  member  to  be  elected  by  the  New  Delhi  Municipal  Committee,  New  Delhi,  from 

among its members; 

(xix) Chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi; 

Representatives of Education Board: 

(xx) Director of Education, Delhi; 

Representatives of Schools, Departments and Colleges: 

(xxi) All Deans of Schools of Studies; 

(xxii)  Not  more  than  ten  Heads  of  Departments,  who  are  not  Deans,  by  rotation  according  to 

seniority; 

(xxiii)  Not  more  than five Principals  of  Colleges,  by  rotation  according  to  senority  of  whom  at 

least one shall be Principal of Women's Colleges; 

(xxiv) One Professor from each School of Studies, not being the Head of Department, by rotation 

according to seniority; 

(xxv) Two Readers, by rotation according to seniority;  

(xxvi) Five Lecturers, by rotation according to seniority; 

members of the Court referred to in items (xxii) to (xxvi) shall hold office for a term of two years; 

Representatives of Alumni Association: 

(xxvii)  Not  more  than  five  representatives,  other  than  the  President,  to  be  elected  by  Alumni 

Association; 

Representatives of Parliament: 

(xxviii) Six representatives of Parliament, four to be elected by the Lok Sabha in such manner as 
the Speaker may direct and two to be elected by the Rajya Sabha in such manner as the Chairman 
may direct; 

Persons representing Learned Professions, Industry, Commerce and Agriculture: 

(xix) Not more than ten persons representing learned professions to be nominated by the Visitor; 

(xxx)  Not  more  than  six  persons  representing  Industry,  Commerce  and  Agriculture  to  be 

nominated by the Visitor; 

Other Nominated Members: 

(xxxi) Not more than five persons to be nominated by the Visitor; 

(xxxii) Not more than two persons to be nominated by the Chancellor: 

Provided that in making nominations under items (xxix), (xxx), (xxxi) and (xxxii) due regard shall 
be had to the representation of the different interests, professions, cultures and learnings and also of 
the different regions of the country: 

17 

 
Provided further that no employee of the University or of a recognised institution shall be eligible 

to be a member under any of the items (xxvii) to (xxxii). 

(2)  When  an  elected  member  of  the  Court  becomes  an  ex  officio  member  before  the  expiry  of  his 

term, he shall cease to be an elected member. 

(3) If any body of persons entitled to elect members fails to do so within the time prescribed by the 
Court, the Court may appoint as a member any person whom that body of persons could have elected as a 
member: 

Provided that in the case of first elections to the Court, the powers conferred upon the Court by this 

clause shall be exercisable by the Executive Council. 

(4)  Save  as  otherwise  expressly  provided,  a  member  of  the  Court  shall  hold  office  for  a  period  of 

three years. 

(5) Thirty members of the Court shall form the quorum. 

12. Meetings of the Court.—(1) An annual meeting of the Court shall be held on a date fixed by the 
Executive Council and at such annual meetings a report of the proceedings of the Executive Council and a 
report of the working of the University during the previous year together with a statement of the receipts 
and expenditure, the balance-sheet as audited and the budget for the next financial year shall be presented 
by the Executive Council and any vacancies among the officers of the University or among the members 
of the Court or the Executive Council which ought to be filled up by the Court shall also be filled up. 

(2) A copy each of the reports together with a copy of the statement of receipts and expenditure and 
of the balance-sheet and the budget referred to in clause (1) shall be sent to every member of the Court at 
least seven days before the date of the annual meeting. 

13.  Executive  Council.—(1)  The  Executive  Council  shall  consist  of  the  following  members, 

namely— 

(i) The Vice-Chancellor, ex officio; 

(ii) The Dean of Students, ex officio; 

(iii) Not more than three Deans of Schools of Studies, by rotation according to seniority; 

(iv) Not more than three Principals of Colleges including at least one Principal from a Women's 

College, by rotation according to seniority; 

(v)  Three  persons,  none  of  whom  shall  be  an  employee  of  the  University  or  an  institution 

recognised by, or associated with, the University, elected by the Court from among its members; 

(vi) Four persons nominated by the Visitor; 

(vii) Such number of other persons representing institutions recognised by, or associated with, the 

University, as may be determined by the Visitor, from time to time. 

(2) The  members  of the  Executive  Council referred to  in  items  (iii)  and (iv) shall hold office  for  a 

term of two years. 

(3) The members referred to in items (v), (vi) and (vii) shall hold office for a term of three years. 

(4)  The  term  of  office  of  the  members  of  the  Executive  Council  shall  commence  from  the  date  of 

election, nomination or appointment, as the case may be. 

(5) Five members of the Executive Council shall form the quorum. 

18 

 
14. Powers of the Executive Council.—Subject to the provisions of the Act, these Statutes and the 
Ordinances, the Executive Council shall, in addition to any other powers vested in it, have the following 
powers, namely— 

(i) to appoint such Professors, Readers, Lecturers, and other members of the teaching staff as may 
be necessary, on the recommendations of the Selection Committees constituted for the purpose, and 
to provide for filling temporary vacancies therein; 

(ii) to fix the emoluments and define the duties and conditions of service of Professors, Readers, 

Lecturers and other members of the teaching staff: 

Provided  that  no  action  shall  be  taken  by  the  Executive  Council  in  respect  of  the  number,  the 
qualifications  and  the  emoluments  of  teachers  otherwise  than  after  consideration  of  the 
recommendations of the Academic Council; 

(iii)  to  create  administrative,  ministerial  and  other  necessary  posts  and  to  make  appointments 

thereto; 

(iv)  to  regulate  and  enforce  discipline  among  the  members  of  the  teaching,  administrative  and 

ministerial staff of the University in accordance with these Statutes and the Ordinances; 

(v) to manage and regulate the finances, accounts, investments, property, business and all other 
administrative affairs of the University and, for that purpose, to appoint such agents as it may think 
fit; 

(vi)  to  invest  any  money  belonging  to  the  University,  including  and  unapplied  income,  in  such 
stocks,  funds,  shares  or  securities,  as  it  shall,  from  time  to  time,  think  fit  or  in  the  purchase  of 
immovable property in India, with the like powers of varying such investments, from time to time; 

(vii) (a)  to  accept  on  behalf  of  the  University  any  trust,  bequest,  donation  or  transfer  of  any 

immovable property to the University; and 

(b) to transfer any movable or immovable property on behalf of the University;  

(viii) to provide the buildings, premises, furniture, apparatus and other means needed for carrying 

on the work of the University; 

(ix) to enter into, vary, carry out and cancel contracts on behalf of the University; 

(x)  to  entertain,  adjudicate  upon,  and  if  it  thinks  fit,  to  redress,  any  grievances  of  the  salaried 
officers,  the  teaching  staff  and  other  employees  of  the  University  who  may  for  any  reasons  feel 
aggrieved: 

Provided that, in matters of discipline and punishment where the final power has been vested in 
the  Vice-Chancellor  or  any  other  officer  of  the  University,  no  appeal  shall  lie  to  the  Executive 
Council; 

(xi) to appoint examiners and moderators and if necessary, to remove them, and to fix their fees, 

emoluments and travelling and other allowances after consulting the Academic Council; 

(xii) to select a common seal for the University and provide for the custody and use of the seal; 

(xiii) to institute fellowships, scholarships, studentships, medals and prizes;  

(xiv) to delegate any of its powers to the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar or such other officer of 

the University or to a Committee appointed by it as it may deem fit. 

15.  Academic  Council.—(1)  The  Academic  Council  shall  consist  of  the  following  members, 

namely:— 

(i) The Vice-Chancellor; 

(ii) The Rector or the Rectors; 

(iii) The Deans of Schools of Studies; 

19 

 
(iv) The Dean of Students; 

(v) The Chief Proctor; 

(vi) The Librarian; 

(vii) Such number of Heads of Departments, other than the Dean of Schools of Studies and the 

Principals of Colleges (by rotation according to seniority) as may be laid down in the Ordinances; 

(viii) Not more than five Professors, other than the Heads of Departments, Deans of Schools of 

Studies and Principals of Colleges, by rotation according to seniority; 

(ix)  Not  more  than  eight  Principals  of  Colleges,  other  than  Deans  of  Schools  of  Studies,  by 

rotation according to seniority; 

(x)  Not  more  than  eight  teachers  of  the  University  elected  from  amongst  themselves  by  the 

teachers, other than those referred to in items (iii) to (v) and (vii) to (ix); 

(xi)  Not  more  than  five  persons,  not  being  employees  of  the  University  or  an  institution 
recognised by, or associated with, the University, co-opted by the Academic Council for their special 
knowledge; 

(xii) Such number of other persons representing institutions recognised by, or associated with, the 

University, as may be determined by the Executive Council, from time to time. 

(2) All members of the Academic Council, other than ex officio members shall hold office for a term 

of two years. 

(3) Fifteen members of the Academic Council shall form the quorum. 

16. Powers and duties of the Academic Council.—Subject to the provisions of the Act and these 
Statutes,  the  Academic  Council  shall,  in  addition  to  all  other  powers  vested  in  it,  have  the  following 
powers, duties and functions, namely:— 

(i) to report on any matter referred to it by the Court or the Executive Council; 

(ii) to make proposals to the Executive Council for the establishment of Departments, Colleges, 

institutions of higher learning, Special Centres, Specialised Laboratories, Libraries and Museums; 

(iii) to formulate, modify or revise schemes for the organisation of, and assignment of subjects to 

Schools of Studies; 

(iv) to consider proposals submitted by the Schools of Studies;  

(v) to promote research within the University and to require, from time to time, reports on such 

research; 

(vi) to make recommendations to the Executive Council with regard to the creation and abolition 
of  teaching  posts  in  the  University  and  the  classification of the said  posts  and  the  emoluments  and 
duties attaching thereto; 

(vii)  to  recognise  diplomas  and  degrees  of  other  Universities  and  institutions  and  to  determine 

their equivalent diplomas and degree of the Jawaharlal Nehru University; 

(viii) to appoint Committees for admission to the University; 

(ix)  to  publish  lists  of  prescribed  or  recommended  textbooks  and  to  publish  the  syllabuses  of 

prescribed courses of study; 

(x) to make such arrangements for the institution and examination of persons, not being members 

of the University, as may be necessary; 

(xi)  to  recommend  to  the  Executive  Council  draft  Ordinances  regarding  examinations  of  the 

University and the conditions on which students should be admitted to such examinations; 

20 

 
(xii)  to  make  recommendations  to  the  Executive  Council  in  regard  to  the  appointment  of 
examiners and, if necessary, their removal  and the fixation of their fees, emoluments and travelling 
and other expenses; 

(xiii) to make arrangements for the conduct of examinations and to fix dates for holding them; 

(xiv)  to  declare  the  results  of  various  University  examinations,  or  to  appoint  committees  or 

officers to do so; 

(xv)  to  make  recommendations  for  the  conferment  of  honorary  degrees  and  to  confer  or  grant 

degrees, academic distinctions, honours, diplomas, licences, titles and marks of honour; 

(xvi) to make proposals to the Executive Council for the institution of fellowships, scholarships, 

studentships, medals and prizes and to award the same;  

(xvii) to perform, in relation to academic matters, all such duties and to do all such acts as may be 

necessary for the proper carrying out of the provisions of the Act, these Statutes and the Ordinances; 

(xviii)  to  promote  the  health  and  welfare  of  students  and  to  constitute  a  Council  of  Students' 
Affairs consisting of such number of teachers and students as may be prescribed by the Ordinances to 
advise the Academic Council on matters relating to the welfare of the students of the University. 

17.  The  Academic  Advisory  Committee.—(1)  The  members  and  the  Chairman  of  the  Academic 
Advisory  Committee  shall be  appointed  by  the  Visitor  and shall  hold  office  for such  period  as  he  may 
determine. 

(2) The Academic Advisory Committee shall, in addition to all other powers vested in it by the Act 

have the right to advise the Executive Council and the Academic Council on any academic matter. 

(3) On the date determined by the Visitor under sub-section (3) of Section 14, this Statute shall cease 

to have effect. 

18. Schools of Studies.—(1) The University shall have such Schools of Studies as may be specified 

in the Ordinances. 

(2)  (a)  Every  School  of  Studies  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  School)  shall  consist  of  such 

Departments as may be assigned to it by the Ordinances. 

(b) Each Department shall consist of the following members, namely:— 

(i) Teachers of the Department; 

(ii) Persons appointed to conduct research in the Department; 

(iii) Honorary Professors, if any, attached to the Department; 

(iv) Such other persons as may be members of the Department in accordance with the provisions 

of the Ordinances. 

(c) Each Department shall have a Head who may be a Professor or, if there is no Professor, a Reader 

and whose duties and functions shall be prescribed by the Ordinances: 

Provided  that  if  there  are  more  Professors  or,  as  the  case  may  be,  Readers  than  one  in  any 

Department, the Executive Council shall appoint one of them as the Head of the Department. 

(3) Every School shall have a Board consisting of the following members, namely:— 

(i) The Dean of the School; 

(ii) The Heads of Departments in the School; 

(iii) The Professors in the Departments in the School; 

(iv) One Reader and one Lecturer, by rotation according to seniority, from each Department in the 

School; 

21 

 
(v)  Five  members  elected  by  the  Academic  Council  for  their  special  knowledge  in  any  subject 

assigned to the School or in any allied branch of knowledge; 

(vi) Such other members, but not exceeding five, as may be specified in the Ordinances. 

(4) All members of a Board other than ex officio members, shall hold office for a term of three years 
and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment, as the case may be. The first term of members shall 
commence from such date as may be notified by the University. 

(5) Every Board shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by the 

Ordinances. 

(6)  The  conduct  of  the  meetings  of  a  Board  and  the  quorum  required  shall  be  prescribed  by  the 

Ordinances. 

19.  Finance  Committee.—(1)  The  Finance  Committee  shall  consist  of  the  following  members, 

namely:— 

(i) The Vice-Chancellor; 

(ii) Three persons nominated by the Visitor; 

(iii)  Three  persons,  who  are  not  employees  of  the  University  or  of  any  recognised  institution 

nominated by the Executive Council. 

(2) The Finance Officer shall be the Secretary of the Finance Committee. 

(3) Three members of the Finance Committee shall form the quorum. 

(4) All members of the Finance Committee, other than ex officio members, shall hold office for a term 

of three years. 

(5) The Vice-Chancellor shall preside at the meetings of the Finance Committee. 

(6) The Finance Committee shall meet at least twice every year to examine accounts and scrutinise 

proposals for expenditure. 

(7)  The  annual  accounts  and  financial  estimates  of  the  University  prepared  by  the  Finance  Officer 
shall be laid before the Finance Committee for consideration and comments and thereafter submitted to 
the Executive Council for approval with or without amendments. 

20. Committees.—The Court, the Executive Council or the Academic Council may appoint Board or 
Committees consisting of members of the authority making such appointment and of such other persons 
(if any) as that authority in each case may think fit; and any such Board or Committee may deal with any 
subject assigned to it subject to subsequent confirmation by the authority which appointed it. 

21. Elected Chairman to preside where no provision made in Statutes.—Where, by the Statutes 
or  the  Ordinances,  no  provision  is  made  for  a  Chairman  to  preside  over  a  meeting  of  the  University 
Authority,  Board or  Committee,  or  when  the  Chairman  so  provided  for  is absent, the  members  present 
shall elect one among themselves to preside at the meeting. 

22.  Resignation.—(1)  Any  member  other  than  an  ex  officio  member,  of  the  Court,  the  Executive 
Council, the Academic Council or any other authority of the University or committee may resign by letter 
addressed to the Registrar and the resignation shall take effect as soon as such letter is received by the 
Registrar. 

(2)  Any  officer  of  the  University  (whether  salaried  or  otherwise)  may  resign  his  office  by  letter 

addressed to the Registrar: 

Provided that such resignation shall take effect only on the date from which the same is accepted by 

the authority competent to fill the vacancy. 

22 

 
23.  Disqualifications.—(1)  A  person  shall  be  disqualified  for  being  chosen  as,  and  for  being  a 

member of any of the authorities of the University— 

(a) if he is of unsound mind or is a deaf-mute or suffers from contagious leprosy; 

(b) if he is an undischarged insolvent; 

(c)  if  he  has  been  convicted  by  a  court  of  law  of  an  offence  involving  moral  turpitude  and 

sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than six months. 

(2)  If  any  question  arises  as  to  whether  a  person  is  or  had  been  subjected  to  any  of  the 
disqualifications mentioned in sub-section (1), the question shall be referred for the decision of the Visitor 
and his decision shall be final, and no suit or other proceeding shall lie in any court of law against such 
decision. 

24. Honorary degrees.—Any proposal for the conferment of honorary degrees shall be made by the 
Academic Council to the Executive Council, and the proposal if accepted by the Executive Council shall 
require the assent of the Court before submission to the Chancellor for confirmation. 

25. Withdrawal of degrees, etc.—The Academic Council may, by a special resolution passed by a 
majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, withdraw any degree or academic 
distinction conferred on or any certificate of diploma granted to, any person by the University for good 
and sufficient cause: 

Provided that no such resolution shall be passed until a notice in writing has been given to that person 
calling upon him to show cause within such time as may be specified in the notice why such resolution 
should  not  be  passed  and  until  his  objections,  if  any,  and  any  evidence  he  may  produce  in  support  of 
them, have been considered by the Academic Council. 

26. University teachers.—(1) Teachers of the University shall be of two classes, namely:— 

(i) Appointed teachers of the University; 

(ii) Recognised teacher of the University; 

(2) Appointed teachers of the University shall be either— 

(a) employees  of the  University  paid  by  University  and  appointed  by  the  Executive  Council  as 

Professors, Readers or Lecturers or otherwise as teachers of the University, or 

(b)  persons  appointed  by  the  Executive  Council  as  Honorary  Professors,  Emeritus  Professors, 

Readers or Lecturers or otherwise as teachers of the University. 

(3)  Recognised  teachers  of  the  University  shall  be  members  of  the  staff  of  a  recognised  institution 

other than an institution maintained by the University: 

Provided that  no  such  member  of  the  staff  shall  be deemed  to  be  a  recognised  teacher  unless  he  is 
recognised by the Executive Council as a Professor, Reader or in any other capacity as a teacher of the 
University. 

(4) The qualifications of recognised teachers of the University shall be such as may be prescribed by 

the Ordinances. 

(5)  All  applications  for  the  recognised  teachers  of  the  University  shall  be  made  in  such  manner  as 

may be laid down by the Regulations made by the Executive Council in that behalf. 

(6)  The  period  of  recognition  of  a  teacher  of  the  University  as  Professor  or  Reader  shall  be 
determined by Ordinances made in that behalf. A person in the service of a recognised institution other 
than an institution maintained by the University, recognised as a teacher of the University otherwise than 
as a Professor or Reader shall continue to be recognised so long as he is in the service of the institution.

23 

 
       (7) The Academic Council may, by a special resolution passed by a majority of  not less than two-
thirds of the members present and voting, withdraw recognition from a teacher: 

Provided that no such resolution shall be passed until a notice in writing has been given to that person 
calling upon him to show cause within such time as may be specified in the notice why such resolution 
should  not  be  passed  and  until  his  objections,  if  any,  and  any  evidence  he  may  produce  in  support  of 
them, have been considered by the Academic Council. 

(8) A person aggrieved by an order of withdrawal under clause (7) may, within three months from the 
communication to him of such order, appeal to the Executive Council who may pass such orders thereon 
as it thinks fit. 

(9)  No  person  shall  be  appointed  or  recognised  as  a  teacher  of  the  University  except  on  the 

recommendation of a Selection Committee constituted for the purpose. 

27. Selection Committees.—(1) There shall be Selection Committees for making recommendations 
to the Executive Council for appointment to the posts of Professor, Reader, Lecturer, Registrar, Finance 
Officer and Librarian. 

(2)  Every  Selection  Committee  shall  consist  of  the  Vice-Chancellor,  who  shall  be  the  Chairman 
thereof,  and  a  person  nominated  by  the  Visitor;  and,  in  addition,  the  Selection  Committee  for  making 
recommendations for  appointment  to  a  post  specified  in  column  1  of  the Table below  shall  have  as  its 
members the persons specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 of the said Table: 

1 

2 

TABLE 

 Professor 

(i) The Head of the Department concerned if he is a Professor; 

(ii)  Three  persons  not  connected  with 

the  University, 
nominated  by  the  Executive  Council,  out  of  a  panel  of 
names  recommended  by  the  Academic  Council  for  their 
special knowledge of or interest in, the subject with which 
the Professor will be concerned. 

Reader, Lecturer 

(i)    The Head of the Department concerned; 

(ii)  Two persons not connected with the University, nominated 
by  the  Executive  Council,  out  of  a  panel  of  names 
recommended  by  the  Academic  Council  for  their  special 
knowledge  of  or  interest  in,  the  subject  with  which  the 
Reader or Lecturer will be concerned. 

Registrar, Finance Officer 

        Three members of the Executive Council nominated by it. 

Librarian 

Three  persons  not  connected  with  the  University,  who 
have special knowledge of the subject of Library Science 
to be nominated by the Executive Council. 

(3) The Procedure to be followed by a Selection Committee in making recommendations shall be laid 

down in the Ordinances. 

(4)  If  the  Executive  Council  is  unable  to  accept  any  recommendation  made  by  the  Selection 
Committee, it may remit the same to the Selection Committee for reconsideration and if the difference is 
not resolved, the Executive Council shall record its reasons and submit the case to the Visitor for orders. 
24 

 
 
  
(5)  The  constitution  of  the  Selection  Committees  for  the  purpose  of  recognising  teachers  shall  be 

provided for by the Ordinances. 

28.  Special  mode  of  appointment.—Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  Statute  27,  the 
Executive Council may invite a person of high academic distinction and professional attainment to accept 
a post of Professor or Reader in the University, as the case may be, on such terms and conditions as it 
deems fit, and on the person agreeing to do so, appoint him to the post. 

29.  Conditions  of  service  of  officers,  etc.—(1)  Every  teacher  and  salaried  officer  and  such  other 
employees  as  are  mentioned  in  the  Statutes  shall  be  appointed  under  a  written contract,  which  shall  be 
lodged  with  the  University  and  a  copy  thereof  shall  be  furnished  to  the  officer  or  teacher  or  employee 
concerned: 

Provided that in the case of any teacher appointed for the first time, the period of the contract shall 

not exceed five years. 

(2) Any dispute arising out of a contract between the University and those mentioned in clause (1) 
shall, at the request of the teacher or officer or employee concerned, or at the instance of the University, 
be referred to a Tribunal of Arbitration consisting of one member appointed by  the Executive Council, 
one member nominated by the officer or teacher concerned and an umpire appointed by the Visitor, and 
the decision of the Tribunal shall be final. 

30.  Removal  of  teachers.—(1)  Where  there  is  an  allegation  of  misconduct  against  a  teacher,  the 
Vice-Chancellor may, if he thinks fit, by order in writing, place the teacher under suspension and shall 
forthwith report to the Executive Council the circumstances in which the order was made: 

Provided that the Executive Council may, if it is of the opinion, that the circumstances of the case do 

not warrant the suspension of the teacher, revoke that order. 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the terms of his contract of service or of his appointment, 

the Executive Council shall be entitled to remove a teacher on the ground of misconduct. 

(3) Save as aforesaid, the Executive Council shall not be entitled to remove a teacher except for good 
cause and after giving three months’ notice in writing or payment of three months’ salary in lieu of notice. 

(4)  No  teacher  shall  be  removed  under  clause  (2)  or  under  clause  (3)  until  he  has  been  given  a 

reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken in regard to him. 

(5)  The  removal  of  a  teacher  shall  require  a  two-thirds  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Executive 

Council present and voting. 

(6) The removal of a teacher shall take effect from the date on which the order of removal is made: 

Provided that where a teacher is under suspension at the time of his removal, the removal shall take 

effect on the date on which he was placed under suspension. 

(7)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  these  Statutes,  the  teacher  shall  be  entitled  to  resign  by 

giving three months' notice in writing to the Executive Council. 

31.  Removal  of  employees  other  than  teachers.—(1)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  the 
terms of his contract of service or of his appointment, an employee of the University, other than a teacher, 
may be removed by the authority which is competent to appoint the employee— 

(a) if he is of unsound mind or is deaf-mute or suffers from contagious leprosy; 

(b) if he is an undischarged insolvent; 

(c)  if  he  has  been  convicted  by  a  court  of  law  of  any  offence  involving  moral  turpitude  and 

sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than six months; 

(d) if he is otherwise guilty of misconduct: 

25 

 
Provided that no officer of the University shall be removed from his office unless a resolution to that 

effect is passed by the Executive Council by a majority of two-thirds of its members present and voting. 

(2)  No  such  employee  shall  be  removed  under  clause  (1)  until  he  has  been  given  a  reasonable 

opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken in regard to him. 

(3) Where the removal of such employee is for a reason other than that specified in sub-clause (c) or 
sub-clause (d) of clause (1), he shall be given three months’ notice in writing or paid three months’ salary 
in lieu of notice. 

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Statutes, an employee of the University, not being a 

teacher, shall be entitled to resign,— 

(i) in the case of a permanent employee, only after giving three months' notice in writing to the 

appointing authority or paying to the University three months' salary in lieu thereof; 

(ii) in any other case, only after giving one month's notice in writing to the appointing authority 

or paying to the University one month's salary in lieu thereof. 

32.  Maintenance  of  discipline  among  students  of  the  University.—(1)  All  powers  relating  to 

discipline and disciplinary action in relation to students shall vest in the Vice-Chancellor. 

(2)  The  Vice-Chancellor  may  delegate  all  or  such  of  his  powers  as  he  deems  proper  to  the  Chief 

Proctor and to such other persons as he may specify in this behalf. 

(3)  Without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  his  powers  relating  to  the  maintenance  of  discipline  and 
taking  such  action  in  the  interest  of  maintaining  discipline  as  may  seem  to  him  appropriate,  the  Vice-
Chancellor may, in the exercise of his powers aforesaid, order or direct that any student or students be 
expelled  from  any  college  or  institution  maintained  by  the  University,  Department,  Special  Centre  or 
Specialised Laboratory, or be, for a stated period rusticated or be not, for a stated period, admitted to a 
course  or  courses  of  study  in  any  college  or  institution,  Department,  Special  Centre,  or  Specialised 
Laboratory,  or  be  fined  in  a  sum  of  rupees  that  may  be  specified,  or  be  debarred  from  taking  an 
examination or examinations for one or more years or that the results of student or students concerned in 
the examination or examinations in which he has or they have appeared be cancelled. 

(4)  The  Principals  or,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  Heads  of  the  Colleges,  Institutions,  Departments, 
Special  Centres  or  Specialised  Laboratories  shall  have  the  authority  to  exercise  all  such  disciplinary 
powers  over  the  students  in  their  respective  colleges,  institutions,  Departments,  Special  Centres  or 
Specialized  Laboratories  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  proper  conduct  of  such  colleges,  institutions, 
Departments, Special Centres or Specialised Laboratories. 

(5)  Without  prejudice  to  the  powers  of  the  Vice-Chancellor  and  the  Chief  Proctor  as  aforesaid, 
detailed rules of discipline and proper conduct shall be framed. The Principals or, as the case may be, the 
Heads of the colleges, institutions, Departments, Special Centres or Specialised Laboratories may frame 
such supplementary rules as they deem necessary for the aforesaid purposes. Every students shall provide 
himself with a copy of these rules. 

33. Membership of students’ organisation.—The membership of any students' organisation shall be 

voluntary. 

34. Alumni Association.—(1) There shall be an Alumni Association established for the Jawaharlal 

Nehru University. 

(2)  The  subscription  for  membership  of  the  Alumni  Association  shall  be  prescribed  by  the 

Ordinances. 

(3) No member of the Association shall be entitled to vote or stand for election unless he has been a 
member of the Association for at least one year prior to the date of the election and is a graduate of the 
University of at least five years standing: 

26 

 
Provided that the condition relating to the completion of one year's membership shall not apply in the 

case of the first election after the commencement of the Act. 

35.  Ordinances.—Subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Act  and  these  Statutes,  the  Ordinances  may 

provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 

(a)  the  fees  to  be  charged  for  courses  of  study  in  the  university  and  for  admission  to  the 

examinations, degrees and diplomas of the University; 

(b) the conditions of the award of fellowships, scholarships, studentships, exhibitions, medals and 

prizes; 

(c) the conduct of examinations, including the terms of office and manner of appointment and the 

duties of examining bodies, examiners and moderators; 

(d) the maintenance of discipline among the students of the University; 

(e) the conditions of residence of students at the University; 

(f) the special arrangements, if any, which may be made for the residence, discipline and teaching 

of women students and the prescribing for them of special courses of study; 

(g) the giving of moral instruction; 

(h) the numbers, qualifications, emoluments and the terms and conditions of service, of teachers 

of the University; 

(i)  the  management  of  colleges,  institutions  maintained  by  the  University,  Special  Centres  or 

Specialised Laboratories; 

(j) supervision and inspection of colleges, recognised institutions, Special Centres and Specialised 

Laboratories; 

(k) all other matters which by the Act or these Statutes are to be or may be provided for by the 

Ordinances. 

36. Ordinances how made.—(1) The first Ordinances shall be made by the Vice-Chancellor with the 

previous approval of the Central Government. 

(2) The said Ordinances may be amended, repealed or added to at any time by the Executive Council 

provided that— 

(a)  no  Ordinance  shall  be  made  affecting  the  conditions  of  residence  or  discipline  of  students, 

except after consultation with the Academic Council; 

(b) no Ordinances shall be made,— 

(i)  affecting  the  admission  or  enrolment  of  students  or  prescribing  examinations  to  be 

recognised as equivalent to the University examinations, or 

(ii) affecting the conditions, mode of appointment or duties of examiners or the conduct or 

standard of examination or any course of study,  

unless a draft of such Ordinance has been proposed by the Academic Council. 

(3)  The  Executive  Council  shall  not  have  power  to  amend  any  draft  proposed  by  the  Academic 
Council  under  clause  (2)  but  may  reject  the  proposal  or  return  the  draft  to  the  Academic  Council  for 
reconsideration, either in whole or in part, together with any amendments which the Executive Council 
may suggest. 

(4) Where the Executive Council has rejected the draft of an Ordinance proposed by the Academic 
Council,  the  Academic  Council  may,  within  two  months  of  the  date  of  such  rejection,  appeal  to  the 
Visitor and he may, by order, direct that the proposed Ordinance shall be laid before the next meeting of 

27 

 
the Court for its approval and that pending such approval, it shall have effect from such date as may be 
specified in the order: 

Provided that if the Ordinance is not approved by the Court at such meeting, it shall cease to have 

effect. 

(5)  All  Ordinances  made  by  the  Executive  Council  shall  be  submitted,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  the 
Visitor and the Court, and shall be considered by the Court at its next meeting; and the Court shall have 
power, by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, 
to cancel any Ordinance made by the Executive Council, and any such Ordinance shall, from the date of 
such resolution, cease to have effect. 

(6) The Visitor may, by order, direct that the operation of any Ordinance shall be suspended until he 
has had an opportunity of exercising his power of disallowance, and any order of suspension under this 
clause  shall  cease  to  have  effect  on  the  expiration  of  one  month  from  the  date  of  such  order  or  on  the 
expiration of fifteen days from the date of consideration of the Ordinance by the Court, whichever period 
expires later. 

(7)  The  Visitor  may,  within  three  months  after  any  Ordinance  has  been  considered  by  the  Court, 
signify to the Executive Council his disallowance of the Ordinance, and from the date of receipt by the 
Executive Council of intimation of such disallowance, the Ordinance shall cease to have effect. 

37. Regulations.—(1) The authorities of the University  may  make Regulations consistent with this 

Act, these Statutes and the Ordinances— 

(a)  laying  down  the  procedure  to  be  observed  at  their  meetings  and  the  number  of  members 

required to form a quorum; 

(b)  providing  for  all  matters  which  by  this  Act,  these  Statutes  or  the  Ordinances  are  to  be 

prescribed by Regulations; 

(c) providing for all other matters solely concerning such authorities or committees appointed by 

them and not provided for by this Act, these Statutes or the Ordinances. 

(2) Every authority of the University shall make Regulations providing for the giving of notice to the 
members of such authority of the dates of meetings and of the business to be considered at meetings and 
for the keeping of a record of the proceedings of meetings. 

(3)  The  Executive  Council  may  direct  the  amendment,  in  such  manner  as  it  may  specify,  of  any 

Regulation made under this Statute or the annulment of any such Regulation. 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
